Non-surgical treatments – the alternative to facelifts?

The popularity of non-surgical cosmetic treatments is growing steadily in the beauty industry, as they are no longer the preserve of women ‘of a certain age’. In our airbrushed world where youth is a precious commodity, non-surgical procedures bridge the gap between face creams – which can’t produce impactful, instant age-reversing miracles – and facelifts, which may feel too invasive and are generally not recommended for anyone under 40.

Botox is a hugely popular muscle relaxant, softening and lessening the appearance of lines and wrinkles. By breaking frowning habits, it is believed to prevent the formation of new lines and wrinkles. Ten years ago, when Botox was first used on women with moderate to severe frown lines, the average age of the user was 41. But in the image-obsessed, celebrity culture we now live in, there is a growing trend among twenty-somethings to splash out on injections.

Consultant plastic surgeon Stephen Sinclair, from the Fitzwilliam Clinic in Belfast, says there are no studies to prove that having Botox in your teens or twenties can have adverse affects or cause premature ageing.
“As you age, the fat distribution in your face changes, putting more pressure on areas like the jowls or the nasolabial fold, he explains.
“This normally starts to happen in your thirties or forties. There is a growing trend among young women to prevent lines and folds by use of Botox and fillers and these treatments are very successful.
“But having it done in your teens and twenties does seem early. The main thing young women should be doing now is leading a healthy lifestyle. Eat well, get exercise, don’t smoke, don’t binge drink. All these will help your skin in later life.“

Crowtox is one of the latest trends in muscle relaxants, targeting and smoothing the crow’s feet area of the eyes, rejuvenating and widening the eyes appearance.

Avoiding the needle, Microdermabrasion is another procedure which has soared in popularity by creating an ultra-fresh complexion. The treatment uses a powerful device to spray fine, hard sand-like aluminum dioxide microcrystals across the skin’s surface which blasts away the uppermost layer of dead skin cells. This exposes the fresh skin beneath and also stimulates the production of collagen.

Dermaroller is a less abrasive technique which is also very effective on scarring, as MYA cosmetic surgery aesthetic consultant Dr Kasia Brennan explains,
“A treatment which successfully improves scarring and a dull complexion is going to result in some degree of skin reaction. Microdermabrasion can improve a dull complexion but in order to improve scarring I would suggest Dermaroller, which promotes collagen production and skin regeneration. The skin is made numb prior to the treatment with local anaesthetic cream, then a roller of micro needles is passed over the skin. This stimulates skin regeneration and repair naturally and safely, improving the appearance of fine lines, sun damage and scarring and resulting in a smoother, brighter complexion.”